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Integrated amplifiers — Dartzeel LHC-208
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Dartzeel LHC-208
Image source — © Dartzeel
The LHC-208 from darTZeel of Geneva carries the maker's own label of danalogue integrated amplifier - one enclosure holding a stereo power stage, network playback, digital conversion and a headphone output. The company states that development ran for more than three years, and the analogue circuits are modelled on the NHB-458 power amplifier. Later production carries the MkII suffix. The same company also builds separate preamplifiers and power amplifiers, all in Switzerland.
Key specs that matter
Rated output is 200 W RMS per channel into 8 ohm and 300 W RMS into 4 ohm, with peak figures of 220 W and 330 W. Power stage gain is 26 dB, and speaker output impedance stays below 0.33 ohm from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Bandwidth runs from 7 Hz to 170 kHz at +0 and -3 dB, THD stays below 1 percent, while noise sits more than 105 dB A-weighted under nominal power. Rise time is under 0.8 microseconds and slew rate above 100 V per microsecond peak to peak. The chassis is 440 mm wide, 350 mm deep and 130 mm tall and weighs 16 kg net. Consumption is 2 W in standby, 40 W at idle and up to 900 W at full output.
Engineering and use context
Analogue sources can use one Zeel BNC input at 50 ohm, three RCA line inputs above 30 kohm and a front 3.5 mm aux jack above 10 kohm, with line gain adjustable from 0 dB nominal up to +12 dB. The digital side offers Ethernet, USB, a pair of RCA coaxial S/PDIF sockets plus two optical TOSLINK ports. Over the network the unit decodes files up to DSD256 and 24-bit 384 kHz PCM, and clocking relies on a non-PLL distribution system. Control is by touch screen, the supplied remote or any DLNA-compatible UPnP app, and the firmware can be updated. A dedicated headphone amplifier drives a 6.35 mm front jack, and one cooling system serves the whole chassis.
Pairing
A very low output impedance combined with generous current into low loads lets the LHC-208 drive most passive loudspeakers directly, so a system can consist of this box, a NAS or network source and a pair of speakers. Owners of other darTZeel electronics can feed it over the Zeel link, and the three RCA inputs accept an external phono stage or a tuner, because the design has no phono section. The coaxial and optical sockets suit a CD transport, a games console or a television, and USB takes a computer.
Alternatives
The darTZeel CTH-8550 is the brand's dual-mono integrated amplifier with up to nine analogue inputs and optional phono stages.
Key specs that matter
Rated output is 200 W RMS per channel into 8 ohm and 300 W RMS into 4 ohm, with peak figures of 220 W and 330 W. Power stage gain is 26 dB, and speaker output impedance stays below 0.33 ohm from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Bandwidth runs from 7 Hz to 170 kHz at +0 and -3 dB, THD stays below 1 percent, while noise sits more than 105 dB A-weighted under nominal power. Rise time is under 0.8 microseconds and slew rate above 100 V per microsecond peak to peak. The chassis is 440 mm wide, 350 mm deep and 130 mm tall and weighs 16 kg net. Consumption is 2 W in standby, 40 W at idle and up to 900 W at full output.
Engineering and use context
Analogue sources can use one Zeel BNC input at 50 ohm, three RCA line inputs above 30 kohm and a front 3.5 mm aux jack above 10 kohm, with line gain adjustable from 0 dB nominal up to +12 dB. The digital side offers Ethernet, USB, a pair of RCA coaxial S/PDIF sockets plus two optical TOSLINK ports. Over the network the unit decodes files up to DSD256 and 24-bit 384 kHz PCM, and clocking relies on a non-PLL distribution system. Control is by touch screen, the supplied remote or any DLNA-compatible UPnP app, and the firmware can be updated. A dedicated headphone amplifier drives a 6.35 mm front jack, and one cooling system serves the whole chassis.
Pairing
A very low output impedance combined with generous current into low loads lets the LHC-208 drive most passive loudspeakers directly, so a system can consist of this box, a NAS or network source and a pair of speakers. Owners of other darTZeel electronics can feed it over the Zeel link, and the three RCA inputs accept an external phono stage or a tuner, because the design has no phono section. The coaxial and optical sockets suit a CD transport, a games console or a television, and USB takes a computer.
Alternatives
The darTZeel CTH-8550 is the brand's dual-mono integrated amplifier with up to nine analogue inputs and optional phono stages.
Specifications
Model name
LHC-208
Type
Integrated Amplifier with Streamer and USB-DAC
Analog inputs (balanced)
N/A
Analog inputs (single-ended)
3
Input sensitivity (mV)
N/A
Input impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
30 000
Output impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Output impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
D/A conversion
N/A
Phono MM/MC current-sensing input impedance (Ω)
N/A
Output power (8Ω) (W)
200
Output power (4Ω) (W)
300
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
7
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
170 000
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
>105
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (%)
<1
Damping factor
N/A
Dimensions (mm)
440 x 350 x 130
Weight (kg)
16
Official link
More components
Integrated amplifiers
Dartzeel CTH-8550